Apparatus for individually wrapping cigarettes



Jan. 29, 1952 C. S. STEPHANO APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPINGCIGARETTES 9 Sheets-5heet 1 Original Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Jan. 29, 1952c. s. STEPHANO APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES 9Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Jan. 29, 1952 s. STEPHANO2,584,060

APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES Original Filed Nov. 29,1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 29, 1952 c. s. STEPHANO APPARATUS FORINDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES Origirial Filed Nov. 29, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 29, 1952 c s. STEPHANO APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLYWRAPPING CIGARETTES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Jan-29, 1 c. s. STEPHANO APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES 9Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Nov. 29, 1946 in 227m 6 93s hzmfmm WW Jan.29, 1952 c. s. STEPHANO APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES 9Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Ky firs Jan. 29, 1952 c. s.STEPHANO APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8Original Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Jan. 29, 1952 c, s, STEPHANO APPARATUS FORINDIVIDUALLY WRAPPING CIGARETTES 9 SheetsSheet 9 Original Filed Nov. 29,1946 m wiz QN Patented Jan. 29, 1952 APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPINGCIGARETTES Constantine S. Stephano, Elkins Park, Pa., as-

signor to Stephano Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Original application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 712,956,now Patent No. 2,446,618, dated August 10, 1948. Divided and thisapplication- December 11, 1947, Serial No. 791,002

6 Claims. (CI. 53-85) v This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in apparatus for producing wrapped articles and is adivision of my copending application Serial No. 712,956, filed November29, 1946 and issued as Patent No. 2,446,618 on August 10, 1948. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a novel apparatus for producingindividually wrapped cigarettes.

It is well-known to smokers of cigarettes that once the conventionalpackage of cigarettesis opened the tobacco in the cigarettes becomes dryin a relatively short time with resulting deterioration in the smokingqualities of the cigarette. In addition to this, it has not beenpossible heretofore to vend cigarettes individually, for example, incoin operated machines in railroad terminals, restaurants, and otherpublic places of a similar nature, due to the fact that there has beenno provision available for protecting the individual cigarette from thedeleterious effect of the surrounding atmosphere or air.

With the foregoing in mind, one object of the present invention is toprovide a novel apparatus for producing articles of merchandisecomprising a single cigarette having an hermetically sealedmoisture-proof wrapper thereabout.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus forproducing articles of merchandise comprising a single cigarette having athermally sealed moisture-proof wrapper thereabout together with meansof opening the wrapper-to permitaccess to the cigarette.

is neatandcompact and which may be packaged in the same machines'ascigarettes devoid of such wrappers without adjusting such machines.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construc- -tion and manufacture thereof are hereinafterfully set forth and described with reference 'to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing an individually wrappedcigarette embodying the pres ent invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figl-showing the wrapped. cigarette afterthe tear strip portion 2 thereof has been removed by pulling upon thetear tape.

Fig. 3 is aview similar to Figs. Land 2 showing the upper severedsection of the wrapper being removed.

Fig-4 1s a view similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 showing the smoker removingthe cigarette from the lower severed section of the wrapper.

Figs. 5A, 5B and 50, respectively, are diagrammatic views in perspectiveof successive portions of an apparatus according to. the presentinvention. which is operable to produce the article of merchandise shownin Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view (in perspective) taken on lines6-B, Fig. 5A.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view taken on line 'l-'l, Fig. 6. 1

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of the portion of Fig.7 bounded by dot and dash lines.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing a portionof the continuous wrapper web with the tear tapes secured in positionthereon.

Fig. 10. is anwenlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line llllII, Fig. 5A.

Fig. .11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line ll-l[,Fig. 5A.

.Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line I 2-42, Fig. 5A.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partially in sectionof the portion of the apparatus embraced within the bracket designatedby the letter X in Fig. 53.

Fig. 14. is a. sectional view taken on line 14-44, Fig. 13.,

Fig. 15 is a partial sectional view taken on line l5l 5, Fig. 5B.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 16-46, Fig. 5B.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line ll-l I, Fi 53.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line Ill-I8, Fig. 53.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 19-49. Fig. 5B.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the tubularwrapper and cigarette construction after sealing of the longitudinalwrapper seam and prior to the cutting of the continuous tube intosuccessive sections each containing a single cigarette.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2l--2l,Fig.20.

- 3. Fig. 22 is a view in perspective of a section cut from thecontinuous tube construction of Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a view inperspective from the rear of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. C.

Fig. 24. is an enlarged fragmentary view of that portion of the machineembraced by line 24-44, Fig. 23.

Fig. is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 25--25, Fig.23.

Fig. 26 is a view in perspective of the novel article of merchandisecontemplated by the present invention; and l r r Fig. 2'7 is an enlargedend view of the article shown in Fig. 26.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4thereof, there is illustrated an article of merchandise which comprisesan individual or single cigarette or like article I provided withawrapper 2 thereabout that is. composed of moisture-proof cellophane orsimilar flexible material having associated therewith a tear tape or thelike 3 which may be used foropening the wrapper preparatory to removing:the

same. r I

As shown in the drawings, the tear tape 3 is arranged 'circumferentiallyof the cigarette i internally of the wrapper 2 to which it is secured,for example, by heat sealing, and an end portion of the tape 3 extendsor projectsfreely outwardly from the lapped longitudinal edge portionsof the wrapper so that it may readily be grasped by the fingers of aperson desiring to open the wrapper. To facilitate tearing of thewrapper 2 by means of the tear tape 3 the wrapper is provided withrelatively short slits or cuts 4 in the exposed longitudinal edge.thereof adjacent opposite sides of the tear tape 3. l

The wrapper 2 is of cylindrical cross-section shape and snugly embracesthe cigarette I. The lapped longitudinal'edges. of the wrapper 2- aresealed together, preferably by heat sealing, to

provide an air-tight. seam. 5 lengthwise. of the wrapper 2, and the endportions of the wrapper 2 are tucked anclfolded over the ends of thecigarette as at 6 and likewise sealed to provide a completelymoistureandair-tight enclosure for the cigarette I.

Opening of the wrapper 2. to obtain access to the cigarette I may beaccomplished'as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, for example, byholding the wrapped cigarette. in the fingers. of onehand, grasping thefree endofxthe tear tape '3-with theiingers of: the other hand and:drawing it in a direction circun'lferentiallyv of the cigarettecounterclockwise with respect to Figs. iv andv 2. Drawing the teal-tape3 in this manner operates to sever a strip from the wrapper 2circumferentially of the cigarette substantially. midway between theends thereof so that the wrapper 2 is divided into sections as. shown inFig. 2v which may be removed readily and easily from opposite endsofthecigarette in the mannershown, for example, in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings.

The novel article of merchandise just described comprising a singlecigarette contained within a moisture-proof wrapper provided with; a.tear tape for opening the same may be produced, for example, asdiagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 5A, 5B and 56 of. the drawings.Thus, in accordance with. the. present invention. and referring. to Fig.5A of the drawings, a continuous strip or web ID of material havingmoisture-proof properties is fed froma supply roll; it which is suitablymounted; upon; a. supporting shaft l2.

The width of the web in transversely thereof is such as to permit it tobe wrapped circumferentially about a cigarette or similar article withsufficient overlap at its edges to provide 'a longitudinal seam whichmay be sealed against the penetration of moisture and air. Preferablythe web Ii] is composed of moisture-proof cellophane or other similartransparent material having thermoplastic or heat-sealing properties.From the roll II the' web l0 passes about rolls i3 and l4,

. selected speed in theclockwise direction by a gear Simultaneously withthe feed of the web I0, a

. narrow tape 19 is fed continuously from a roll 20' over a support 21arranged transversely of the course of travel of the web Ill and thenceonto a drum 22 against which said tape is initially urged by means of apressure wheel 23 having a rubber or other resilient periphery 24..Preferably the tape I9 is. composed of cellophane or similar materialand it. is generally desirable that it. be of a. contrasting color tothe web I0.

-As shown. in. Fig. 6 of the drawings, the drum 22 has av hollowinternal chamber 25 therein and communicating from this chamber.outwardly to the periphery of said drum is aplurality of radial ports,or passages 26 arranged. circumferentially of the, drum. Connected tothe internal chamber 25. of. the drum 22 through an opening 21 is asuction line28 which, operates through the chamber 25 and radialpassages 26 to retain the nanrow tape 19 against the periphery of thedrum 22, as itrotates in the counterclockwise direction with respect.to- Figs. 5A and 6. In'orderto prop.-

erly locate the narrow tape ISupon. thedrum withreference to the portsor passages 26 therein the periphery of the drum 22 preferably isprovidedwithacircumferential groove, for example, as indicated at 29 inFig. 8. The drum 22 is mounted ona shaft 22a and driven in timedrelation tothespeed of travel of the web i0.

Associated with the-drum2 2 isacutting mechanism. 3i which isrotationally driven in timed relation to the drum- 22: by a. gear 32which is meshed with a. gear 30 on drum shaft-22a. The

cutting mechanism 3| is provided with hardened steel cutting elements33. arranged to cooperate with hardened steel inserts 34 disposed trans:versely in the peripheral surface of the drum 22 to sever the narrowtape [9- thereon into sue.- cessive tape sections, of predetermined.equal length. In this connection it is to be noted that the radial portsor passagesv 26 in the drum 22 are arranged. circumferentially thereofin groups of four alternately with. the hardened steel inserts. 34: sothat there is thus presented to each successive section cut from thetape I9 a: plurality of suction passages 26 for holding each sectionagainst the. drumv 2.2 as counterclockwise rotation thereof continues.

It is to be noted with reference to Fig. 6 of. the drawings. that theinner openings of the; ports or passages 26 in the drum 22 areclosed at.their inner ends over about one-half. the-circumference of theinternalchamber 25 by meansxof. ashield or plate 35 which serves to prevent airfrom being drawn into the drum chamber 25 through the passages 26. asthe latter, traverse thatv portion of each revolution of the drum 22 mwhichs'aid passages 26; are. notcovered by the. narrowtape ill or thecut sections thereof. In addition; the shield or plate. 35; operatestobreak or. interrupt the suction and. thereby releasethe severed.sections of the narrow tape l9 from the drum 22 as said cut tapesections are moved successively into position for transfer to anunderlying transfer cylinder 36.

With reference to Fig. '7 of the drawings, there is formed in thetransfer cylinder 36 an internal chamber 31 from which an aligned seriesof ports 38 communicate radially outward and are arranged to underliethe cut sections of the tape I9 that are brought into position by thedrum 22 for transfer to the cylinder 36. In this connection and withreference to Fig. 8, it is to be noted that the cylinder 36 is providedwith a longitudinally extending shoulder 36a of relatively shallow depthwhich performs the dual function of picking the tear tape sections fromthe drum 22 during the transfer operation and of accurately aligning thesaid sections axially of the cylinder 36 in overlying relation withrespect to the suction ports 38. A suction line 39 is connected to thechamber 31 and this suction force is utilized to retain the cut tapesections in position upon the transfer cylinder'36 during transfermovement of the latter. The transfer cylinder 36 is rotationallyjournaled in a bearing 40 and is driven in timed relation to the drum I6by means of a gear 4| which is meshed with the gear I8 on the shaft I!of said drum I6.

Referring to Fig. 7 of the drawings, the drum I6 is hollow and rotatesabout an internal housing 42 that forms, in conjunction with the innersurface of the drum I6, a suction chamber 43 of relatively small arcuatelength with respect to the over-all circumference of the drum l6.

' Formed transversely in the drum I6 are groups of a plurality of portsor passages 44 which are arranged circumferentially of the drum I6 atversely thereof in accurate registry with the underlying transverse teartapes 3. The heating mechanism 46 is fixed upon a shaft 4'! that isrotatably driven by means of a gear 48 from a gear 49 driven from themain drive of themachine. An electric current is supplied to theresistance coils 50 of the heater elements 460. from contact rings 52 bymeans of conductors 5|, the said rings 52 being rotatable with shaft 41and engaging a pair of fixed resilient contacts 53.

- Continued rotation of the drum I6 with the web I0 and associatedsealing tapes 3 advances the web ID for engagement by a suitable cuttingmechanism 54 having diametrically arranged 7 pairs of cutting elements54a that operate to spaced intervals equal to the circumference of thetransfer cylinder 36 so that the series of 'ports 38 in the latter. willregister with a suction, arrangement and operation of the drum Z2,transfer cylinder 36 and drum I6 is such that the successive tear tapes3 will be transferred by the cylinder 36 from the drum 22 to theperiphery of the drum I6 in overlying relation with respect to eachsuccessive group of the ports or passages 44 therein so that said teartapes 3 will be held accurately in position transversely upon the drumI6 by the suction force created internally of the chamber 43.

Held upon the drum I6 in the described positions the tear tapes 3 arecarried by the drum I6 into underlying association with the continuouslyadvancing web III. In this connection it is to be noted that the teartapes 3 have a length somewhat greater than the width of the continuousWeb ID so that one end portion of the tear tapes 3 projects or extendsfreely beyond one lateral edge Illa of the web III, for example,

as indicated in Fig. 6.

As clockwise rotation of the drum I6 continues carrying with it thecontinuous web I0 and associated tear tapes 3, the said tear tapes 3 aresecured to the web ID by means of a suitable heat-sealing mechanism 46having diametrically spaced apart heater elements 46a adaptedsuccessively to engage the continuousweb I0 transproduce the relativelyshort tear slits orcuts 4 inwardly of the edge Illa of the web II) atopposite sidesof each transverse tear tape -3 as shown in Fig. 9 of thedrawings. As in the case of the heat sealing mechanism 46, the cuttingmechanism 54 is rotatably driven in predetermined timed relation withrespect to the drum I6.

Soon after leaving the cutting mechanism 54 the web I0 and associatedtear tapes 3 leaves the drum I6, passing about a roll 55' and pursues ahorizontal course of travel upon a support or platform 56 against whichit is retained by one or more rolls 51, 51a. H

As the web I0 passes about the roll 51a it leaves the support 56 andtravels upwardly about a roll 58 and then into overlying contact with acontinuous belt 60 in the relation shown. in Fig. 11 just after the beltleaves a roll 6| and prior to entering the horn portion 62 of a webformer 63, which operates in the manner hereinafter described to formthe web Ill into a tube circumferentially about a series or successionof aligned equally spaced cigarettes I.

The belt 60 and web I 0 traverse the forepart of the former (hornportion 62) beneath the outlet end portion of a guide tube 64 (see Figs.12 and 13) through which the cigarettes I are conveyed from a feed pointby means of an endless chain 65 having projecting dogs 66 thereon atpredetermined equally spaced intervals which are adapted to engagebehind a cigarette and advance the same from the feed point through thetube 64 to the web former 62.

As shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the cigarettes I are fed by gravitysingly from an inclined stack 61 thereof to atrough or the like 68arranged beneath the chain 65 and positioned so that successivecigarettes deposited in the trough are engaged by the dogs 66 on thechain 65 which is driven at the speed of travel of the web Ill. Thechain 65 is suitably mounted upon a plurality of sprockets or the like69 at least one of which may be driven by a gear I0 from a gear IIassociated with the main drive mechanism of the machine.

With reference more particularly to Fig. 13 of the drawing, it is to benoted that the passage through the horn portion 62 of the former 63 isof relatively shallow U-shape in cross-section at the point where thebelt and web enter the same and from that point the cross-sectionalshape of the horn changes gradually from said shallow U- shape to asubstantially circular cross-sectional shape which forms the web I0 andbelt 60 into generally cylindrical tubular cross-section shape snuglysurrounding or embracing the cigarettes I, for example, as shown in Fig.14 of the drawmgs. i

It is to be noted that the outlet end of the tube the said: tube 64prior to entering the substanv tially circular portion of the former 63.Also, it

. to be noted that the dogs 65 of the chain 65 remain in. engagementwith the rearward end of the cigarettes I for a short period after theyemerge from. the tube 64 and until the 'forward or leading endof eachcigarette has just entered the substantially circular or tubular portionof the former 63, for example, at the section line I 4, H in Fig. 13. Atthis'time the dogs 66 of the chain 65 move out of engagement with therear ward and of the cigarettes and the latter and the surroundingtubular web Ill are carried the remainder of the distance through theformer 63 bymeans of the encircling belt 60;

Passage of the cigarettes in aligned space relation with the surroundingtubular web HI and embracingv belt 60 through the remainder of theformer 63' takes place in the manner shown in Figs lfi to 18 of thedrawings and it is to be noted that in the portion of the -former 63between the stations where Figs. 15 and 16 are taken, the inner-orunderlying surface of the free edgeportion of the tubular web Illreceives an application of a suitable. thermoplastic adhesive from awheel I2 which in turn receives adhesive from a suitable feed or supplywheel I3.

Upon leaving the former 63 the. tubular. web I containing. thecigarettes I at predetermined spaced intervals therein is graduallyreleased fromthe grip of the. belt 66 as the web and cigarettes are.conveyed by the latter and an overlying continuous belt 14 beneath an.elongated electric heating element: I which operates to set thethermoplastic adhesive applied. by the application wheel. 12' andthereby provide a continuous hermetic seal between the lapped edgeportions of the tubular web I0 surrounding the cigarettes.

The. belt 14 is mounted on spaced pulleys or the like 1-6, and driven atthe speed of linear travel of: the Web ID from themain drive of themachine. Asv the tubular Web ID containing the cigarettes nears the. endof its passage beneath the heater ,15 the belt 69 moves out ofsupporting contact beneath the web II] and proceeds on its course aboutawheel I1 and rolls l8 and I9 to the roll BI where it again enters theweb former 63.

After the lapped longitudinal edges of the tubular Web 'ID areheat-sealed as described by' tions of said tapes 3' projecting outwardlythrough the web longitudinal seam between the pairs of tearslits or cuts4' in. the overlapping edge otthe tubular Web ID.

Fromtheheat: sealing element. I5 the continuous tubular web Ill andcigarettes I arranged therein as describedcontinue their travel throughthe machine to av cut-ofi mechanism of conven tional type comprising arotary cutting element 80 which is driven and brought into engagementwith the traveling tubular web Ill at predetermined equal intervalstimed. to sever the continuous web midway of the space provided betweenadjacent ends of successive cigarettes. r Thus there is severed from thecontinuous tubular web It successive tube sections each containing asingle cigarette 'I of. shorter length than the tube sections so thatthe ends of the latter project substantially the same distance beyondopposite ends or. the said cigarettes, for example, as shown in Fig. 22ofv the drawings. I

When out from the continuous tube, these iii-'- dividua-ltube sectionsare conveyed by relatively.

the speed of rotation of the said cone is such 7 that succeedingpassages 84 therein are presented to receive. the successive. individualcigarette tube sections cut from the web I9. 7

The individual cigarette tube sections entering.

the passages 84 of the cone 85 are conveyed by rotation of the latterthrough substantially 360 during the course of which they are conductedtoward the apex of. the cone 85 for discharge by gravity through anopening at the underside of thecone onto a pair of laterally spacedendless chains 88, 89 provided with suitable. recesses 90 to receive.the successive individual cigarette tube sections as they discharge fromthecone 85.

The chains 88', 89 are mounted upon suitable sprockets 9i, 92 driven inpredetermined timed relation with respect to the other componentmechanisms of. the machine, and deposit the successive individualcigarette tube sections in the order received from the cone 875' upon aplatform or support 93. During travel of the individual cigarette tubesections upon the chains 88,. 89 from the cone 85 to the platform 93,, awheel having radialteeth 96 engages'the outwardly facing ends of thecigarettes I and moves them inwardlyot their tube sections. therebyproperly. aligning the said cigarettes so that the free ends of the tubesections project an. equal distance from opposite ends of thecigarettes. This aligning and centering operation performed by the.wheel 95 is made necessary by reason of the fact that as the cigarettetube sections slide through the speed reducing cone 85 and impactagainst the apex end thereof the cigarettes I are caused to slideforwardly within their surrounding tube sections thus making itnecessary to recenter the cigarettes with respect to the ends of theirtube sections. The wheel 95 may be driven by a chain 91 driven from oneor the other of a pair of sprocket wheels 98, 99.

'After being deposited upon the platform 93 by the. chains 88, 89 asdescribed, the cigarette tube sectionsare caused to be rolledsuccessively along said. platform 93 by means of a. pair of laterallyspaced apart endless belts or the like I00, IBI: mounted. onrolls I02,I03 and driven approximately at twice the speed of travel of the chains88, 89. As the cigarette tube sections traverse. the platform 94 theopposite projecting ends of the tubes are engaged by folding members I04arranged at opposite sides of said platform 9.3. As shown, the foldingmembers Illdare provided with rounded teeth or fingers Hi5, HIS andvIll! defining rounded. notches or grooves I08, I09 and III}therebetween, the edge III defining the rear of the notch I I0 beingbent slightly outwardly; 7

Thus, as the ends of the rotary tubes engage continuous tubular .wrapperto remove the cigarette. v this us protectively sealed from thesurrounding the round tooth I of the members I 04 a portion of the tubeis folded inwardly as shown in Fig.

24 and the edge of the remaining portion rolls into the notch I08 whileanother fold is made by .the tooth I06. As the open portion of the tubeend rolls into the notch I09 and engages the tooth 101, a third fold ismade, and the fourth and final fold is made as the last portion of thetube end is enclosed in the notch III) against the edge II I as shownalso in Fig. 24 thus forming a complete fold. With their ends folded asdescribed the tube sections pass between laterally spaced heaters I I3and I I4 which heat the folded atmosphere and the initial good smokingqualities of the cigarette will be preserved until the wrapper isopened.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described The cigarette herein, it is not intended thatthe invention be limited to, such disclosures, and, therefore, changesand modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:

' 1. In apparatus for individually wrapping cigarettes, means .toadvance a continuous web of sheet material, forming means traversed bysaid web including a tapered portion of relatively large generallysemi-circular configuration converging in the direction of web traveland terminating at its other end in a portion of substantially circularcross-sectional shape operable; V

to convert said web from flat sheet form into a continuous cylindricaltube with the opposite side edge portions of the web disposed in lappedrelation longitudinally of the tube, a guide member of split tubularconstruction extending axially disposed in lapped relationlongitudinally of the tube, a guide member of split tubular constructionextending axially of said forming means and terminating a short distanceinwardly of the tapered portion of said forming means at a point spacedfrom the web forming portion of substantially circular cross-sectionalshape a distance greater than the length of a cigarette to be wrapped todischarge cigarettes from the tubular guide member before entering thesubstantially .circular portion of the forming means, and feed meansmovable longitudinally of the tubular guide and projecting therein toengage and advance cigarettes successively through said guide member anddeposit the same in equally spaced apart end-to-end relation in said webduring conversion of the same into said continuous tube.

3. In apparatus for individually wrapping cigarettes, means to advance acontinuous web of sheet material, forming means traversed by said webincluding a tapered portion of relatively large generally semi-circularconfiguration converging in the direction of web travel and terminatingat its other end in a portion of substantially circular cross-sectionalshape operable I to convert said web from fiat sheet form into acontinuous cylindrical tube with the opposite side edge portions of theweb disposed in lapped relation longitudinally of the tube, a guidemember of split tubular construction extending axially of said formingmeans and having its outlet opening a short distance inwardly of thetapered portion of the forming means to discharge cigarettes from thetubular guide onto the web before enarettes, means to advanceacontinuous web of of said forming means and terminating a short Idistance inwardly of the tapered portion of the forming means todischarge cigarettes from the tubular guide onto said continuous webbefore entering the substantially circular portion of the forming means,and feed means movable longiable in supporting association with said webdu'r-- ing at least a portion of its travel, forming means i traversedby said belt and web and including a tapered portion of relatively largegenerally semicircular configuration converging in the direction of webtravel and terminating at its other end in a portion of substantiallycircular crosssectional shape operable to convert said web from flatsheet form into a continuous cylindrical tube with the opposite sideedge portions of the web" sheet material, forming means traversed bysaid webincluding a tapered portion of relatively large generallysemi-circular configuration converging in the direction of web traveland terminating at its other end in a portion of substantially circularcross-sectional shape operable to convert said web from fiat sheet forminto a continuous cylindrical tube with the opposite side edge portionsof the web disposed in lapped relation longitudinally of the tube, aguide member of split tubular construction extending axially of saidforming means and terminating a short distance inwardly of the taperedportion of the forming means at a point spaced from the web formingportion of substantially circular crosssectional shape a distancegreater than the length of a cigarette to be wrapped, a trough arrangedaxially of said guide member adjacent the other end thereof, means tofeed cigarettes individually to said trough, and feed means movablelongitudinally of the tube and projecting therein to engage and advancesaid cigarettes successively from said trough through said guide memberand deposit the same in equally spaced apart end-toend relation in saidweb during conversion of the same into said continuous tube.

5. In apparatus for individually wrapping cigarettes, means to advance acontinuous web of sheet material, forming means traversed by said '11web including a tapered portion of relatively large generally semicircular configuration converging in the direction of web travel andtermi nating at its other end in a portion of substantially circularcross-sectional shape operable to convert said web from fiat sheet forminto a continuous cylindrical tube with the opposite side edge portionsof the web disposed in lapped re- .lation longitudinally of the tube, aguide member ofsplit tubular construction extending axially of saidforming means and terminating I a short distance inwardly of the taperedportion 'of said forming means to dischargefcigarettes from the tubularguide onto the web before en-' tering the substantially circular portionof the forming means, feed means movable longitudinally of the tube andprojecting therein to engage and advance cigarettes successively throughsaid guide member and deposit the same in equally spaced apartend-to-end relation in said web during conversion of the same into saidcontinuous tube'and before entering 'the substantially circular portionof the forming means, means to seal the lapped longitudinal edgeportions of the,

web to provide an air and moisture-proof seal lengthwise of thecontinuous tube, cutting means operable to sever the continuous tubetrans.- versely thereof midway of the spaces between successivecigarettes therein to provide successive tube sections each containing acigarette of shorter length than its tube section, means for folding theprojecting end portions of the tube sections over the opposite ends ofthe cigarette,

1'2 lation longitudinally of the tube, a guide member of split tubularconstruction extending axially of said forming means and terminating ashort distance inwardly of the tapered portion of said forming means ata point spaced from the web 'forming portion ofsubstantially circularcrosssectional shape a distance greater than the length of 'a cigaretteto .be wrapped to discharge cigarettes from the guide tube onto the webbefore entering the substantially circular portion of the forming means,a trough arranged axially of'said guide member adjacent the other endthereof, means to feed cigarettes individually to said trough, feedmeans movable longitudinally oi the tube and projecting therein toengage and ad- 7 vance said cigarettes successively from said troughthrough said guide member and deposit .the same in equally spaced apartend-to-end relation in said web during conversion of the same into saidcontinuous web, means to seal the lapped longitudinal edge portions ofthe web to provide an air and moisture-proof seal length- Wise of thecontinuous tube, cutting means opand means to seal the said folded overend portions of the tube sections.

6; In apparatus for individually wrapping cigarettes, means to advance acontinuous web of sheet material, forming means traversed by said 7 webincluding a tapered portion of relatively large generally semi-circularconfiguration converging in the direction of Web travel and termi natingat its other end in 'a portion of substantially circular cross-sectionalshape operable to convert said web from flat, sheet form into acontinuous cylindrical tube with the opposite side edge portions of theweb disposed in lapped re- REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 7 7 528,751 Weinman et al. Nov.6, 1894 1,320,699 vLeurnann Nov. 1919 2,113,078 Campbell Apr. 5, 19382,296,142 Campbell Sept. 15, 1942 2,334,029 Ranney et al. Nov. 9, 1943Campbell Feb. 22, 1949

